Door latch



A. A. KUCHER June 13, 1 939.

DooR LATCH Filed Nov. 17, 1956 w m. @Nm

W"lNvElxnoR` mma/@ am im@ A TORNEY Patented June 13, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The present invention relates to door 'latches and more particularly to door latches of the free catch type. i

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a door .nach mi which the catch' is urged'in one direction by a spring and is provided with a camming surface land' which a manually operated device cooperateslwith the camming surface for moving the catch to another '10 position-'against the action of the spring.

In the presentinvention, the catch mechanism is pivotally mounted and is arranged to hook with a shoulder for latching the same. and, another object of the present invention is to arrange the l5 pivot for the catch mechanism and the point at which the catch engages the shoulder in substantially the same arc through which 'the pivot for the catch mechanism swings when the door is swung. In certain constructions such as refrigerator cabinets, a cabinet frame or door frame is utilized and such frame is provided with a covering. A` further object lof the invention is to secure the base for the catch to the covering and between the covering and theirame and to extend the operating handle mechanism for the catch through the covering.

A still further object is to dispose the catch mechanism in an opening in -the trame and to utilize the side walls `of theA opening for preventing the displacement of the pivot for the catch.

The latch of the present invention includes a manual operated stem 4for releasing 'the catch and another object oi the invention is to arrange the catch and stem in such manner that the catch' will engage the stem and bind therewith to therebyrlimit the movement of the catch V,and stem.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference be ing hadto the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred form of embodiment oi the present invention is clearly shown. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view oi' the corner of an insulated cabint yshofwing my improved latch in latching position;

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1 but showing the latch in released position and showing part of the catch in section;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views' 50. taken on lines '3-,3 and H, respectively, of Fig. l: Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional4 view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic vlewfof the swinging I door. the pivoted catch and the stationary strike.

bers 54 by screws (not shown).

The cabinet herein shown is more clearly illustrated in my copending application vSerial Number 102,368, ledv September 2 4, 1936. In the present application, the cabinet is indicated by n the numeral 20 and the door by numeral 2 I. The 5 cabinet 20 is provided with a strike 23'which is notched as at 24 to provide a shoulder 25 for the nose 214 of catch 28. Catch 25 is pivotally mount- .ed on a pin 29 and is urged into latching position by a spring 3l. A manually operable stern 32 is l0 associated with the catch 2B for retracting the same from-the socket or notch 24. The stem 32 extends to the exterior ofthe door and is there provided with a handle 34 for actuating the same.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the l5 cabinet 20 includes a 'cabinet frame 35 formed of wood or the like. 'I'he metal lining 35 and the metal covering 31. is spaced from one another and this space is filled with insulating material 35. iThe lining 35 and the covering 31 are 20 clamped to the frame 35 by breaker strips, one of whichis shown at 40. These strips 4l! are secured to the frame directly as by screws (not shown). The breakerstrip 40 is notched to receive the strike 23 which is secured to the breaker strip by 25 screws 42.

The door 2| includes a sheet metal outer cover in the 'form of a pan 44 providing a front wall 45. The material is beni;lv rearwardly, to form narrow side walls 46,` and then inwardlyl to form 30 rear inwardly extending iiianges 41. Thus the portions 45, 45 and 41 forma channel 48 within the outer frame edges of the door 2l. A rectangular frame 49 is disposed within the door and forms a compartmentfor insulating material 35 55. This compartment is covered by the front 45 and the back panel 5|.

Each side of the rectangular frame 49 includes a iiat wood member. 53 and a woodgmember 54 which is substantially trapezoidal shape in cross 4o section. The members 53 are first inserted into' the'channel 48 and the'n the members 54 are secured to the members 53. A flexible gasket 55 is provided with arhook portion 51 which extends into grooves 58 formed in the hat member 53. 45 Metal strips 55 lie iiush with the back of memhers. and extend into the hook 51 for holding l Athe gasket in position. A like gasket-5I having a hook 52 covers the edge o f panel 5l. This panel 5l is secured tothe frame member 54 by screws 50 (not shown). Four' breakerstrips, one of which is shown at 34, are secured to the sides of mem- These breaker strips 64 overlie the metal strips 59 and the shank portions of the gasket hooks 32 and thereby hold f ing 1I) for receiving a bushing 1|.

the gaskets 55 and 8| and the strips 59 in position.

The left side of the door, opposite the hinged side, is provided with a catch mechanism for cooperation with the strike 23 and its notch 24. 'l'.'he catch mechanism is carried by a base 86. This base 88 is formed of ilat sheet metal which is cut and bent to form ears 81. The catch 28 extends between the ears 81 and is pivoted to the ears by the pin 29. A groove or channel 68 is formed in the frame member 53 for receiving the base 88. The base is provided with an open- The bushing 1| is provided with a head 12 disposed on the outside of the door pan 44 and the shank 13 of the bushing, within the door, is threaded. A nut 14I is threaded on the shank 13 which nut vwhen tightened securely clamps the bushing 1| `and the base 68 in position on thepan 44. The frame member '53 is also cut-away as at 18 so' as to receive the catch mechanism, the bushing' 1| and the nut 14.

The left side of the door 2| is provided with two frame members 54. 'I'he inner ends of these members 54 are spaced from one another and aligned with the cut-away portion in frame' member 53 to provide, with.said` cut-away portion, an opening 11. The catch 28 which is pivotally mounted on' the pin 29 extends into opening 11 and through ahole 18 cut in breaker strip 84. The side walls 19 of the cut away portion 16 are spaced at such a distance from, one another so as to function as retaining walls for preventing the displacement of pin 29.

An arm 8| is formed integrally with the catch 28 and the spring 3| engages the arm 8|, through a washer 82, and normally urges the catch to the left and latch position. It will be apparent that when the door is being closed, the nose 21 of catch 28 will engage the strike 23, moving the catch to the right and compressing spring 3| and when the nose 21 is moved beyond lthe end' of the notch or socket 24, the spring 3| will react to force the nose 21 behind the shoulder 25 of notch 24.

It will be noted from Figs. 1 and 6 that I have arranged the parts in such manner that the point at which the catch 28 engages the shoulder 25, when the door is closed, and the pivot for the catch lies in substantially the same arc of travel of the pivot when the door'is swung. In fact, in the preferred embodiment, the saidv point lies slightly beyond this arc. The pivot of hinge for the door 2| is shown at 83 and the arc through which the pivot or pin 29 swings is indicated at 84. Therefore, a pull directly on the door tends to force the nose 21 farther into the notch. When the door is closed, the gaskets 5B and 6| are compressed and expansion of these gaskets will not tend to open the door. By this construction, a light spring 3| canbe used. The tension of spring 3| need be suilicient only for moving the nose 21 behind the shoulder 25.

It wi1l also be apparent that very little energy need be expended when it isvdesirable to open the door. It. is necessary only to pull the nose 21 of latch 28 out of socket 24 and since the spring 3| is relatively `weak, its tension is readily overcome.

Any suitable mechanism can be employed for moving the catchnose 21 out of socket 25. In the preferred embodiment, I have illustrated a pull type handle for moving the catch. A stem 32' is suitably secured to a handle 34. 'I'he stem- 32 is guided by the bushing 1| and extends through spring 3|. The base of handle 34 extends into a recess 81 of bushing head 12. The inner end of stem 32 is milled flat at 89 on opposite sides thereof and these milled portions 89 extend between the tines 99 of the bifurcated arm 8| of catch 28. A pin 9| is suitably secured to the end of the stem 32 in camming relation with the rear sides 92 of tines 90 of arm 8|. The portions 89 of stem being flat. are prevented from turning bythe tines 98 and -thus the pin 9| is maintained in proper position at all times. For smoother operation, the camming surfaces 92 may be disposed at an angle as is herein shown.

A very slight pull on handle 34 will cause the pin 9| to move the catch nose 21 out of socket 25. Ordinarily the spring 3| has sulcient tension to limit the movement of the catch while the door is being swung open by the movement of the handle. However, in view of the fact that it is desirable to use a light spring, it is desirable to directly mechanically limit the rocking of the catch. For this purpose, reference is made to Fig. 2 wherein the catch is shown in its extreme "pulled position. KIt will be noted that I have arranged the yoke 94 of arm 8| so that it will engage and bind with .the stem 32 and thereby limit further movement of the stem and the catch 28.

The latch mechanism is of the "free bolt type. 'I'he catch 28 can move on its pivot while the stem 32 is maintained in the position show'n in Fig. 1. When the door 2| is being closed, the strike 23, acting through the catch 28, will merely cause the compression .of spring 3| without imparting movement to the stem 32. In order to accomplish this, the milled Vpor-tion 89 of stem 32 is of sufllcient length that the depressed washer 82 will not engage the stem when the stem is in its extreme inward position and the catch is in its extreme unlatching position.

If desirable a facing plate 95 can be attached to the breaker strip 64 as by screws 98. This plate 95 is provided with an opening 91 for receiving the catch nose 21.

In assembling the door, the catch mechanism is attached to the front pan 44. Then the four frame members 53 are inserted into the channel 48 formed by the edge of pan 44. The ve frame members 54 are then secured to the frame members 53. Thus all of these parts cooperate to hold one another in position and since the base plate 65 fits Within the groove 68 of frame 53 and abuts the side wall 48, of pan 44, Yand since the frame 53 is held in place by the anges 41.of the pan 44, the single nut 14 is suicient to rigidly secure the catch mechanism to the door.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a latch which positively maintains its catch position' and which cannot be released except by positive releasing movement by the releasing' handle. Furthermore, the construction is such that very little energy need be applied to release the latch. It is necessary only to pull the handle to release the latch and swing the door. Other advantages such as the limited number of parts, the ease of assembly, the ruggedness of construction and the low cost of manufacture will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

, tending through the covering and the latch base;

I claim:

l. In combination, a door frame and an outside covering for the frame; a latch base disposed against the inside wall of the covering and secured to the covering; a catch pivotally carried by the latch base; and means extending -through the covering for actuating the catch.

2. In combination, a door frame and an outside covering for the frame; a latch base disposed between the frame and covering and secured to the covering; a catch pivotally carried by the latchbase and having a part extending through the frame; and means extending through the covering for actuating the catch.

3. In combination, a vhinged door including a door frame and an outside covering for the frame; a latch base having one portion thereof disposed between the frame and covering and held against the covering by the frame and having another portion secured directly to the covering; a catch pivotally carried by the latch base and having a part extending through the frame; and means extending through the covering for actuating the catch.

4. In combination, a door frame and an outside covering for the frame; a latch base; a catch pivotally carried by the base; a bushing extending through the covering and the latch base; means for securing the bushing, saidv base and covering with one another; and a stem within the bushing and operatively associated with the catch and extending through the covering.

5. In combination, a door frame and an outside covering or the frame; a latch base; a catch pivotally carried by the base; a bushing extending lthrough the covering and the latch base; means for securing the bushing, said base and covering with one` another; a spring normally urging the `catch in one direction; and a stem within the bushing and having one end extending through the covering and having the other end operate upon movement to counteract theA spring.

6. In combination, a door frame and an outside covering for the frame; a latch base; a

catch pivotally carried by the base; a bushing exmeans for securing the bushing, said base and covering with one another; a spring surrounding the bushing and associated with the catch for normally urging the catch in one direction; and a stem Within the bushing and having one end extending through the covering and having the other end operate upon movement to counteract the spring.

7. In combination, a door frame andan outside covering for the frame; a latch base; a catch pivotally carried by the base; a bushing extending through the covering and the latch base; means for securing the bushing, said base and covering with one another; a spring surrounding the bushing and associated with the catch tor normally urging the catch in one direction; and a stem within the bushing, said stem having one end-thereof extending through the covering, the other end of said stem being connected with the catch for moving the catch in the opposite direction.

8. In combination a door frame having an opening, a latch bas having a pivotal support extending into said opening, catch mechanism Within the opening, a loose pivot for pivotaiiy mounting the catch mechanism on the pivotal support, the opposite walls of the opening being disposed to prevent the displacement of the loose pivot.

v9. In combination, pivotally mounted catch mechanism, a spring normally urging said mechanism in a certain direction, a guided stem manually movable for moving the catch mechanism in the opposite direction, said mechanism having a part adapted to engage the stem tor limiting the movement of the mechanism by the stem.

10. In combination, pivotally mounted catch mechanism, a spring normally urging said mechanism in a certain direction, a guided stern manually movable for moving the catch mechanism in the opposite direction, said mechanism' having a part adapted to engage the shank of the stem and bind therewith for preventing further manual relative movement of the stem.

.ANDREW A. KUCHER. 

